Blog

Carver County Real Estate Listings Up 16.4%; Under Contract in 44 Days or Less June 2017 home sales in the Twin Cities Metro are up 2.2 percent, hitting a record high. Home sales in Carver County are up 1.4 percent, with a median sales...

Free Events in Carver County, MN ─ Movies, Music, Magic and More in Chanhassen, Chaska, Victoria and Waconia Looking for fresh ideas for summer fun? Check out these FREE events in Carver County: FREE Admission to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for Carver County Residents...

Make Sure Professional Home Staging is Part of Your Marketing Plan Professional home staging can mean the difference between a home’s fast sale for top dollar and a home sale that lingers for less. Having your home staged by a professional is one of...

Victoria Rose Floral Delivers Great Service and Perfect Gifts – For Mother’s Day, Special Occasions or “Just Because” Long time Victoria resident Marta Christianson has an enviable job. As the owner of Victoria Rose Floral, she is surrounded by the beauty of flowers and...

Chaska’s Minnesota Landscape Arboretum ─ a Great Venue for Outings & Gifts (Especially for Mother’s Day!) As you’ve probably already heard, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum was recently named the Best Botanical Garden by USA Today. Second and third place spots are held by the...

Mortgage Rates Inching Upward but Still Historically Low Mortgage rates are expected to gradually increase into the summer. The good news is that mortgage rates still remain historically low. Purchasing a home now remains attractive for home buyers. Anticipated Mortgage Rate Increase based on...

Tidying Tips for People Who Hate Cleaning I hate cleaning house ─ unless I should be doing something else (like preparing my taxes or paying bills). When faced with options I don’t like, suddenly cleaning becomes absolutely necessary to do NOW, and almost fun...

Real Estate Awards Honor Exceptional Performance (and Dedication to Client Needs!) John Wichmann of JW Real Estate Group recently received five different real estate awards for excellence in his field. The most prestigious of the awards was the induction into the national RE/MAX Hall...

2017 Home Design Trends can Increase Appeal and Marketability Opinions vary about the top 2017 home design trends, but below are a few that stand out. Incorporating a few into your home will update its look and increase its appeal and marketability. Go Green...

Twin Cities Home Sales are Up, Inventory is Down 2016 was a solid year for Twin Cities home sales. The median sales price increased 5.8 percent to $232,000, the average days on market was down 16.4 percent to 61 days, and November 2016 closed...

Year-end Giving Ideas ─ Invest Locally As the 2016 year-end giving deadline approaches (midnight, December 31), consider giving to a local charity. With more than 500 non-profit / 501C organizations registered in Carver County alone, you have a lot to choose from. Think about...

Twin Cities Holiday Events Help Create Holiday Memories Twin Cities holiday events offer a variety of ways to get in the holiday spirit. If you’re looking for different ways to celebrate the season, local options abound! Southwest Metro Holiday Events: “Folkways of the Holidays”...

Local Venues Offer Gift Ideas for Memories that Last Need some fresh gift ideas this Christmas? We all have more stuff than we need, so this year, why not give something that won’t fit in a box with a bow? Consider giving your loved...

Grateful for Our Great Clients and Business Community Here at JW Real Estate Group, we are grateful for you: our clients, our business associates and the many members of our community who make our work so enjoyable. Thank you for your business, for your...

11 Steps to Buying a Home If you are a first-time home buyer, you may not know the steps involved in buying a home or where to begin. Don’t worry ─ that’s only natural. Every first-time buyer feels overwhelmed in the beginning. Help is...

Discover a Cure for What Ails You at Jeff Byrne’s Cabin Fever in Victoria Jeff Byrne is friendly, focused and passionate about what he does. As the owner of Cabin Fever, a hunting and fishing retailer located in Victoria, Minnesota, Jeff takes pride in...

Twin Cities Metro Home Sales and Prices are Up While a normal seasonal slowdown is underway for Twin Cities Metro home sales, it is still a seller’s market. Demand is especially strong for homes in the $190,000 – $250,000 price range, followed by mid-range...

Awe Moments Await in Victoria, Chanhassen and Your Own Backyard! Experiencing awe-inspiring moments is said to connect us with others, help us see things in new ways and make us both nicer and happier. It’s possible it can also promote health and healing, which...

Discover Your Home’s True Value with an In-Person Market Analysis Pricing a home for sale is a process that involves both art and science. You can tap into the “science” aspect by going to a real estate website and requesting an online market analysis....

7 Ways to Experience the 2016 Ryder Cup without Attending Whether or not you’re a golf fan, the 2016 Ryder Cup at Chaska’s Hazeltine National Golf Club is a momentous event for our area. I attended the Grand Opening at Hazeltine on Sunday afternoon...

Chaska and Victoria, MN Celebrate the Ryder Cup Golf’s biggest international event, the Ryder Cup, happens next week at Hazeltine National Golf Club in our own Chaska, Minnesota. The 41st Ryder Cup, September 30 – October 2, features 12-member teams representing the United States...

Create an Inviting Entry with Fall Color Clear out the old, make way for the new The first step to create an inviting entry for fall is to get rid of your “tired” summer plants. We’ve started “retiring” our droopy-looking potted plants by moving...

Is your Homeowner’s Insurance Sufficient to Weather Storms? In Minnesota, the number one cause of loss for homeowner’s insurance claims is damage from wind or hail. With that in mind, it’s important to make sure your homeowner’s insurance coverage is enough to weather any...

Event at Deer Run Golf Club Raised Awareness and Funds for Colon Cancer Research The Inaugural Caboose Cup ─ Sean McQuillen Memorial Golf Outing at Deer Run Golf Club in Victoria, MN was a huge success. The August 17, 2016 event drew 140 golfers,...

FREE Admission for Carver County Residents on August 19 Carver County residents are invited to enjoy FREE admission to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum this Friday, August 19. The event kicks off with a public welcome at 10 a.m. in the Oswald Visitor Center. Guests can...

Update Your Entry for Maximum Curb Appeal — Help Drive Traffic to Your Door First impressions count, especially when you have a “For Sale” sign out front. If you are preparing your home to sell, or just want to create a more welcoming entrance...

Outdoor Activities in Victoria, Waconia & Greater Carver County It’s August 3 and summer is two-thirds over! It’s time to make the most of what’s left. There’s a lot to do that’s close to you, right here in Victoria, Waconia and greater Carver County. Here are...

High Quality of Life = Growth Victoria MN is 4th Fastest Growing City in Minnesota! Carver County ranked number three in a study of the happiest counties in America, up from number four in 2015. Stable families and a strong economy are noted as...

Quality of Life Factors ─ Must-Haves for Your Dream Home Wish List Last week we featured a top ten list of “Dream Home Must-Haves” according to Property Brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott. The list included tangible features, according to their experience, that are most...

Create your own wish list of dream home must-haves using this guide According to Jonathan and Drew Scott of HGTV’s popular “Property Brothers” show, there are some things that keep coming up on home-buyers’ wish lists for the home of their dreams. You can...

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, consider biking along one of the many trails in Victoria, MN. My husband and I started our trek near the Charlson Thun Community Bandstand and took the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail that...

Parades, fishing contests, car shows and of course FIREWORKS are all available on one special day in a variety of west metro locations – check out the list below to find a great way to celebrate our nation’s most patriotic holiday! Chanhassen: 4th of July Celebration...

Summer provides a great opportunity to enjoy spending time together as a family. Below are a variety of FREE family-friendly events to take advantage of in Victoria, MN this summer. Who needs a road trip when there are so many free and fun things...

I stopped by Deer Run Golf Club in Victoria yesterday ─ the parking lot was full, the Pro Shop was buzzing and friends and acquaintances were enjoying camaraderie after time on the green. Known as one of one of Minnesota’s premier 18-hole championship golf...

Minnesota summers are glorious. Victoria, Minnesota is especially beautiful this time of year, offering lots of parks and outdoor options. Sometimes, however, you just want to stay home and enjoy the outdoors from the privacy of your own backyard. Creating an “outdoor room” with...

Location is as important in realtor selection as it is in choosing your next home! Location, location, location are three simple words that come to mind when you think of the most important consideration when buying your next home or investment property. Where a...

As a Victoria resident for more than 10 years, I’ve watched my twin daughters, Elle and Kari, now 12, grow up here. I’ve served as a Volunteer Fireman and as an Accredited Minnesota State EMS trained First Responder. I was recently appointed to the...

John Wichmann, of JW Real Estate Group, is honored to be inducted into the Re/Max Hall of Fame. Consistent productivity, year after year, has propelled him into an elite group of real estate professionals, the very best of the best.

On January 11, 2016, John Wichmann of the JW Real Estate Group was appointed to the Victoria, MN City Planning Commission. The Planning Commission acts as the board of adjustments and appeals, with the power to hear and decide based on the ordinances of...

When you hire a real estate company to help you buy or sell your home, you are relying on their experience and expertise to help you navigate the process and achieve your goals. Every agent touts themselves as the best, but how can you...

Whether you’re in the mood for a golden IPA or a sweet porter, Victoria’s Enki Brewing could be a spot to make stop at. Enki Brewing has been brewing since 2013, and started selling their product in local bars, restaurants, its own taproom and now liquor...

Disney-Pixar’s sweet and funny movie “Inside Out” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12 at the Victoria Recreation Center. The City of Victoria’s Parks and Recreation Department will be providing popcorn, but moviegoers are welcome to bring their own beverages. Adult beverages...